A Howell man was sentenced to 17 years in state prison for firing a handgun outside his friend’s home nearly three years ago, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.

Pietro A. Ventricelli, 47, was sentenced Tuesday by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley. Ventricelli was sentenced to 12 years on the single count of first-degree Attempted Murder, subject to the provisions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA), which mandates that 85 percent be served prior to the possibility of parole. Ventricelli also received five years for the second-degree Certain Persons Not to Possess a Weapon charge, which will run consecutively.  

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning,January 15, 2023, Howell Township Police responded to a call for shots fired from a home on Carrie Drive. The investigation revealed that three juvenile friends of the homeowner’s son were sitting in his vehicle in front of the house awaiting the arrival of a rideshare service. Upon arrival, the three juveniles got out of the vehicle, inadvertently setting off the vehicle’s alarm system. Ventricelli, the homeowner’s boyfriend, came outside and began firing at the rideshare vehicle, later identified as a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, striking it three times. The driver was able to leave without any injuries to anyone within the vehicle.

“Confrontation around your home can easily escalate a theft into a violent assault or worse, potentially injuring or killing someone, including the homeowner,” Prosecutor Santiago stated. “While it is fortunate in this case that no one was injured, this could have had a far worse outcome. The use of deadly force to protect property is never the answer. If you believe a theft is taking place in your homeor you feel threatened in any way, dial 911 immediately. Let this serve as a reminder to think twice prior to retaliating against a possible intruder. The law is particular when you are permitted to use deadly force and this case was not one of them.”

Prosecutor Santiago would also like to acknowledge and extend his gratitude to all involved law enforcement agencies for their collective assistance on this case,including: the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau, Forensic Unit, and High Tech Bureau, along with the Howell Police Department, and New Jersey State Police Ballistics Unit.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Commentucci. Ventricelli was represented by Armando B. Suarez, Esq., and Amy Luria, Esq., with an office in Roseland.